Participatory culture seems to have consigned patriarchal culture to the dustbin of history in Indonesia’s recent presidential election. A lean, clever child of the street took on and beat a bloated, bullying son of the elite—or so the story goes. Yet, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s victory over Prabowo Subianto heralds radical changes in the style, if not substance, of Indonesian politics.
After three tilts at the executive, Subianto seems to have been utterly defeated by participatory culture. In the most recent election, he had Indonesia’s richest men and its biggest media group at his back but to no avail. As former New Order newsreader, Desi Anwar asked perceptively: how could the election have been won by “some skinny, furniture maker out of nowhere who’s never ridden a horse, wielded a gun or defended the country in battle?” Subianto had played the part of a powerful, benevolent patron brilliantly throughout the campaign; he had offered an ambitious national development plan with big round numbers; his birthright had been demonstrated; and the most popular television stations had supported him. So what the hell happened?
The full article was published in the Sep-Oct 2014 edition of FuturArc.
After three tilts at the executive, Subianto seems to have been utterly defeated by participatory culture. In the most recent election, he had Indonesia’s richest men and its biggest media group at his back but to no avail. As former New Order newsreader, Desi Anwar asked perceptively: how could the election have been won by “some skinny, furniture maker out of nowhere who’s never ridden a horse, wielded a gun or defended the country in battle?” Subianto had played the part of a powerful, benevolent patron brilliantly throughout the campaign; he had offered an ambitious national development plan with big round numbers; his birthright had been demonstrated; and the most popular television stations had supported him. So what the hell happened?
The full article was published in the Sep-Oct 2014 edition of FuturArc.
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